Spring clip

Abstract

A spring clip, particularly for use as a peg for suspending clothes from a crossbar of a hanger, has a bar-engagement clip lying between a fulcrum for pivoting movement of a pair of levers and a nip formed by one end of the pair of levers. A U-shaped spring urging those ends together has arms the outer surfaces of which lie flush with outer surfaces of the levers to form substantially flat side surfaces. The clip is integral with the spring. The ends of the arms of the spring may engage the levers by a snap-fit. The flat side surfaces may be used for the adhesive attachment of alternative mounting means for the clip, such as a double-sided adhesive pad.

We claim: 
     
       1. A spring clip comprising: a pair of levers having two ends,   said levers including a handle portion toward one of said ends thereof and a jaw portion toward the other of said ends,   means defining a fulcrum intermediate said ends about which said levers are relatively pivotable for mutual approach or parting of said jaw portions,   spring means urging said other of said ends for mutual approach to form a nip, said spring means comprising a substantially U-shaped spring member having two arms and a base joining said arms, said arms lying respectively along said jaw portions of said levers and said base bridging between the levers, said fulcrum being adjacent to said base,   means for engaging said spring clip to a bar,   said engagement means being intermediate said fulcrum and said nip comprising a resilient clip having a closed base and a restricted open mouth, said open mouth being disposed towards said nip, and   said resilient clip being integral with said spring member.   
     
     
       2. A clip as claimed in claim 1 wherein said closed base of said resilient clip is adjacent said fulcrum. 
     
     
       3. A clip as claimed in claim 1 wherein said fulcrum defining means comprises a camming surface on each lever, said spring means urging said camming surfaces into contact, and said surfaces being adapted for rolling line contact therebetween upon said pivoting of said levers whereby to define a moving said fulcrum. 
     
     
       4. A clip as claimed in claim 3 wherein tooth means are provided on said camming surfaces for preventing slippage therebetween. 
     
     
       5. A spring clip as claimed in claim 3 wherein upon said movement of said fulcrum upon opening of said nip, said cam means move to interfere with said engagement means to tighten engagement of said clip on said bar. 
     
     
       6. A clip as claimed in claim 1 wherein mutually outer surfaces of said arms lie substantially flush with mutually outer surfaces of said jaw portions to define flat side faces of said spring clip. 
     
     
       7. In combination, a clip as claimed in claim 1 and suspension means therefor, said suspension means comprising a bar which is generally horizontal in use, said bar having a non-circular cross section and said resilient clip having a correspondingly non-circular cross section whereby to tend to maintain said spring clip in a predetermined orientation relative to the suspension means. 
     
     
       8. A clip as claimed in claim 1 wherein said jaw portions have end faces adjacent said nip and said arms extend flush along said side faces into said end faces and flush therewith. 
     
     
       9. A spring clip comprising a pair of levers having two ends, said levers including a handle portion toward one of said ends thereof and a jaw portion toward the other of said ends, said levers having means for pivotal interabutment between them for defining a fulcrum therebetween intermediate said two ends of said levers, means on said interabutment means for preventing slippage therebetween, said levers being relatively pivotable about said fulcrum for mutual approach or parting of said jaw portions, spring means urging said other of said ends for mutual approach to form a nip at ends thereof distal from said ones of said ends, said spring means comprising a substantially U-shaped member having two arms and a base joining said arms, said arms lying respectively along said jaw portions of said levers to said distal ends and said base bridging between the levers adjacent said fulcrum, said arms engaging said levers adjacent said nip by a restricted mouth forming a snapfit engagement with a portion of said jaw portions, mutually outer surfaces of said arms lying flush with mutually outer surfaces of said jaw portions to define substantially flat side faces of said spring clip. 
     
     
       10. A clip as claimed in claim 9 including means on one of said flat side faces for securing said clip to a flat surface.